Why March May Be the Best Time to be Trekking the Coldest Inhabitable Place on Earth.

You want to travel someplace different. You’re dead tired of Norovirus infected cruises, all-inclusive resorts that cater to your…um, mom and dad, and overcrowded (not to mention, overpriced!) European capitals that have been globalized and gentrified and all look the same.

You want to get back to nature. Go off the grid. Find your inner Unabomber without actually bombing anything. So why not go trekking in the coldest inhabitable place on earth: Siberia?

Siberia is synonymous with unpopulated wilderness and majestic scenery, but chances are when someone mentions the region, you think of Gulags, secret military bases, and crime and punishment.

Oh, yeah…it’s bloody cold. As in, every day is a polar vortex. And did we mention that Siberia has the highest density of grizzly bears in the world? Also wolves, lynxes, and arctic foxes?

In other words, a trekking expedition in Siberia isn’t for the faint of heart. You need to be cut from a certain cloth. You need to be able to live without Wi-Fi, or even a paved road, modern toilet, or other human beings for that matter.

But think of all the things you can expect to see, not to mention the bragging rights you’ll have if you actually make it home. Yes, that was a joke. Gulag humor, if you will.

Sightseeing at the Rim of the World

The Chukotka region is known for its reindeer camps. If you happen to stumble upon one, here’s what you say: Napse, dohor. It means “What news, friend?”

There are numerous volcanoes in Siberia. Klyuchevskaya Sopka is the largest active volcano in Eurasia. It last erupted in March 2010. There are ghoulish trekking tours that will take you to the summit. Other volcanoes you can hike include Tolbachik, Ushkovsky, and Plosky. Our tongue just died.

If volcanic mountains aren’t your cup of tea, especially active ones that can blow up at any second, then trek to the Lake Baikal region. The terrain is less rigorous, and the area is known for its wild animals – Baikal seals and Nerpas. Sounds like some weird versions of Vietnamese soup, if you ask us.

If you’re traveling to what adventure writer Lawrence Millman calls “one of the last places on earth,” you need more than a daypack and baseball cap. You need extreme climate gear. Pack accordingly.

And watch out for those darn bears! They ain’t gonna be friendly like Yogi. Be warned.